SOVIET ATTITUDES TOWARDS POLITICAL, PROBLEMS

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP80-00810A000800250004-2
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: S
• Document Page Count: 4
• Document Creation Date: December 22, 2016
• Document Release Date: August 27, 2010
• Sequence Number: 4
• Publication Date: April 30, 1953
• Content Type: REPORT

Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2010/08/27: CIA-RDP80-0081 OA000800250004-2
CENTRAL. INTELLIGENCE AGENCY
INFORMATION REPORT
SECRET
SECURITY INFORMATION
COUNTRY USSR/Germany (Soviet Zone)
SUBJECT Soviet Attitudes Towards
Political Problems
This Document contains information affecting the Na-
tional Defense of the United States, within the mean-
ing of Title 18, Sections 793 and 794, of the U.S. Code, as
amended. Its transmission or revelation of its contents
to or receipt by an unauthorized person is prohibited
by law. The reproduction of this form is prohibited.
REPORT
DATE DISTR.
30'April 1953
NO. OF PAGES 4
REQUIREMENT NO. RD
REFERENCES
THE SOURCE EVALUATIONS IN THIS REPORT ARE DEFINITIVE.
THE APPRAISAL OF CONTENT IS TENTATIVE.
(FOR KEY SEE REVERSE)
25X1
25X1
I N D E X
THE SOVIET REGIME AND ITS LEADERS,-
0
STATE M ARMY NAVY AIR X A FBI AEC
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 Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2010/08/27: CIA-RDP80-0081 OA000800250004-2
SECRET
POSITIVE SYMBOLS OP SOVIET SOCIETY
ELECTIONS r 9 a . ? ? ? ? ? e a
SOVIET FOREIGN POLICY
SOVIET REGIME AND ITS LEADERS
1.. Althoud~ Bard co laints about the high prices of con-
sumer goods and similar daily problems never heard any
Soviet express criticism directed against the regime.
~thereia little open discontent with their
govenment amng people.
2. only favorable comments about Stalin from
Soviet workers. ey feared that
life in the.Soviet Union could take a turn for the worse after
Stalin dies.. Lenin was also always praised in such phrases as
the savior of the Soviet people", Soviet props-
Banda has developed such an aura of greatness about Stalin that
he is probably approaching Lenin as a popular hero, although
Lenin was undoubtedly a leader of far greater significance.
POSITIVE SYMBOLS OF SfiOVIET.SOCIETY
The Soviets, often spoke with pride of the large construction
projects which have been accomplished there, such as the river
dams, hydroelectric works,-and the buildings in Moscow. They
also were favorably impressed with projects to control natural
elements such as changing the course of rivers and irrigating
the steppes, which have recently been announced.
4. Free medical care and equal rights for women were also aspects
of Soviet society which apparently met with approval of the
Soviet population.
Other developments considered as positive achieve-
ments were the victory of the USSR in
World War II and its postwar reconstruction. Also, there were
some Soviets who even believed in the truth-
fulness of Soviet claims to Soviet priority in fields of science
and technology. These persons, who were young and well-educated,
were proud of these achievements.
ELECTIONS
no recent governmental acts or decisions which aroused
particular displeasure among the Soviet population except
perhaps an incident which occurred in connection with the 1950
elections. A candidate for the Ostashkov constituency in the
RSFSR, or Oblast,Soviet, was nominated who was entirely unknown
to the local population. Many employees at the institute com-
plained that this candidate could hardly have been nominated by
popular agencies.
SECRET
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6. The Soviets apparently aecepted..their election system as entirely normal
and. believed it to be democratic. They evidently were convinced that these
electiond' ahd:h+r ,pat#ipatio';lnrthe.e 6lectio-were itant.
Announcement of election returns created considerable excitement among the
Soviet employees on Gorodomlya Island. In particular, every effort
was made to complete as. soon as possible the palling at local election
points. Local elegtion officials evidently strove to report 100%
participation earlier than neighboring election districts.
SOVIET FOREIGN POLICY
L the attitudes
egard:ing international. relations corresponded to the
official Soviet propaganda line.
apparently all Soviets believed that the USSR
as. striving to further
the cause of -peace
,y believed, for example, that Gromyko's vetoes were
Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2010/08/27: CIA-RDP80-0081 OA000800250004-2
 Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2010/08/27: CIA-RDP80-0081 OA000800250004-2
Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2010/08/27: CIA-RDP80-0081 OA000800250004-2